Oleksandr Usyk and Dereck Chisora made it clear at a news conference Friday in London that their May 23 showdown is scheduled to take place in unusual times.
Chisora wore a bandana over his mouth and a plastic suit covering his clothes. Usyk also had his nose and mouth covered at one point. And moments after their obligatory face-to-face stare down and then a friendly selfie – Usyk without a mask at that moment – the cruiserweight-turned-heavyweight whipped out disinfectant and sprayed the area.
Those watching, perhaps amused, had to wonder whether the fight being promoted would actually take place as scheduled. Sporting events worldwide have been canceled because of the pandemic, which has killed more than 5,000 worldwide.
If it happens, it will be one of the most-anticipated fights so far this year and one that will have a tremendous impact on the division.
Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) would be fighting as a heavyweight for the second time, having stopped Chazz Witherspoon in seven rounds in October. He is in the short line to challenge for one of Anthony Joshua’s titles.
Chisora (32-9, 23 KOs) has won three consecutive fights since he was stopped in 11 rounds by Dillian Whyte in December 2018. He’s fighting to remain a viable championship contender.
Usyk was speaking for many people when he said, “I really hope that this fight will take place.”
The 33-year-old Ukrainian, the 2018 Fighter of the Year and former unified 200-pound champion, believes he can also find success against the biggest men in the sport. Usyk, who is 6-foot-3, weighed 215 pounds for the Witherspoon fight.
“As a cruiserweight, I reached the highest heights as undisputed champion and now I am following the same path as a heavyweight,” talkSPORT quoted Usyk as saying. “I expect a real test in Chisora. He is strong, tough and resilient. I recall being an amateur and watching his fight with Vitali Klitschko. It seemed so big and far away.
“Now I am myself taking a fight against Chisora. I am working hard in my training camp to show a spectacular performance on May 23. Dear friends, I will see you soon!”
Chisora, a Zimbabwe-born Londoner who has been a heavyweight his entire career, believes Usyk is in for a rude awakening.
“War is coming,” said Chisora, who is 6-1½ but weighed 260¼ in his last fight. “Usyk reckons he can step up and survive with the big boys. He may be the undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world, but on May 23 he will find out what it feels like to be hit by a real heavyweight.
“He is coming to my backyard. I’m going to remind him exactly why he hid in the cruiserweight division and also get revenge for my boy, Tony Bellew (who lost to Usyk in 2018). This will be war.”